These arresting words from Hymn No. 139 in the Christian Science Hymnal tell of a joy that is available to all, a joy that cannot be taken away. Some may believe that a state of happiness which is constant and abiding is impossible of attainment. However, Christian Science teaches what true joy is and where it comes from. All who recognize this may expect to find and to manifest, here and now, an enduring and a satisfying bliss.

Joy is a quality of God. God, good, the all-knowing divine Mind, is aware only of the divine qualities that express His nature. The infinite abundance of His goodness is forever embraced in the all-inclusiveness of Love, God, the fount of all that exists. The God-qualities, including spiritual joy, radiate from Soul, God, and are lovingly and impartially bestowed upon His children. That Soul, Spirit, is the one infinite source of joy is indicated on page 253 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Here Mary Baker Eddy writes that Spirit testifies, among other things: "I include and impart all bliss, for I am Love."

Man, as the spiritual idea, the image and likeness, of God, inherits as his birthright the spiritual qualities of divine Love. He includes them, for it is of these right ideas of the creative divine Mind that man is constituted. We see by this that since joy is a divine quality, it is a portion of man's God-given heritage; and one can thus state with assurance, "Joy is mine." This true spiritual joy is not an elusive will-o'-the-wisp, to be longed for and sought after. It does not have to be acquired. Man, as God's reflection, already owns and possesses his joy, for it is an inherent constituent of his being.

The false belief regarding happiness is that it is a fickle, elusive, temporary emotion, dependent either upon chance or upon outside material conditions, and that it comes and goes according to the whims of sense. True joy is never fickle, for it is constant, dependable, and unwavering. It is not elusive, for it is an eternal, ever-available quality of omnipresent Soul. It is not temporary, but gloriously permanent, for it depends not upon chance, but upon the unchanging law of Principle. Its existence is no more contingent upon favorable material circumstances than is the light given forth by the sun's rays dependent upon atmospheric conditions for its being.

The rays emanating from the sun do not look to one another or to their surroundings for the light and heat which they radiate. These come from the sun alone. This is symbolic of the manner in which man expresses his joy. True joy comes not from person, place, or thing; it is derived from God, Soul, alone. This spiritual bliss is not a vacillating emotion that brings moments of exhilaration followed by periods of unhappiness or sadness. Instead, it is a calm, steady, inner glow that can withstand any adverse circumstance.

That it is possible to experience this true joy in our daily living was demonstrated some years ago by the writer. It was brought to her attention at that time that for several months she had been manifesting a sense of mental heaviness and self-condemnation. She realized that she had accepted the false belief that her happiness depended upon certain conditions in her environment; but not knowing how to find her freedom, she prayed to God for guidance and enlightenment, confident that Love would show her the way. As she listened for His voice the answer came, as if spoken aloud, in these words written by Mrs. Eddy in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 165): "I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing."

With joyous expectancy of healing she fully accepted the truth of this message. She admitted to herself, "I am able to impart happiness because God is able. Since He imparts spiritual qualities of good, so must His reflection." The vital truth then dawned in her thinking that to exist one must express good, God. As these truths continued to illumine her consciousness the cloak of heaviness dropped from her. It was replaced with a glowing garment of radiant spiritual joy and gratitude.

It is interesting to note here that nothing had occurred outwardly to bring happiness to the writer. Nothing had changed in her daily activities or environment. The only change that took place was within her own consciousness. Through fully acknowledging the joy that was, by reflection, already hers she was able to experience happiness, even though outside conditions remained the same.

That harmony, or heaven, is already within consciousness was indicated by Jesus in his teachings. He did not teach that heaven is a locality; neither did he imply that it is a state of consciousness to be acquired here or hereafter. Instead, he said (Luke 17:21), "The kingdom of God is within you." He knew that our heaven—our true state of abiding peace, harmony, and bliss—is already within us, and he taught that we need only awake to this realization.

Jesus also taught the permanency of spiritual gladness, as is shown in his words of comfort to his disciples (John 16:22), "Your joy no man taketh from you." Well may we remember that when we are conscious of the Christ, we likewise may keep our joy and gladness forever. We can rest secure in the knowledge that since God's reflection, man, does indeed own and possess his God-bestowed joy, no person, event, or circumstance can dispossess him of it.

Any false sense of happiness or satisfaction which appears to be gained from the world, from dependence upon persons or things, is not lasting. What materiality gives, it can also take away. But that which God, Spirit, gives can never be taken away. No one learned this more thoroughly than did Mrs. Eddy. For many years this courageous woman had experienced such trials as loss of dear ones, betrayals, injustices, and persecutions. But through her application of the truth which God revealed to her and which she named Christian Science she found not only physical healing, but also an unfailing strength and a joy that overcame the adversities that confronted her. Her own words indicate this (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 281): "I learned long ago that the world could neither deprive me of something nor give me anything, and I have now one ambition and one joy."

This same joy is present here and now for all of us to accept as our own. Let us claim our inheritance. Let us rejoice in the glorious realization that our joy is, in reality, within us, awaiting our recognition. Nothing can dull it, remove it, or replace it. Because "the joy that none can take away" is a gift from God, it is eternally ours.